Who Are The Faithful?

Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.  They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.  Psalm 12:1-2

Dear Father I pray that I will be faithful to your word, that I will speak truth to others and that I won't speak with ill of another.  Amen

My Faith Looks Up To Thee

by Ray Palmer

My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!

May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee,
Pure warm, and changeless be, a living fire!

While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread, be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream over me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!

Storms of Life

 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.  And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.  And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”  Matthew 8:23-25

Have you ever been driving through a storm with rain so heavy you can barely see the road?  You know you need to get to safety but there is no where to pull off to get out of the mess.  The storms of life are like this.  They come at you and you have no idea how you will survive and make it through.  Your life is shattered into a million pieces and you don't know how to put it all together again.  We are like the disciples and feel there is no way out.  We feel like God is not with us because if He was why would He allow this to happen.  Well guess what?  God is right there with us, He is picking us up and carrying us when can no longer put one foot in front of the other.  His word tells us to lean on Him, to gain strength from Him, to place our faith, hope and trust in Him.  

I have a plate that has this quote, "Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain!"

  

I pray that I learn to dance in the rain as I lean on God to bring me through what ever comes my way.  

It Is Well With My Soul

by Horatio G. Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

His Light

"For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it."  Matthew 7:14

Why do we try to do things in our own power?  Things happen in life and we think we are doing just fine and feel we can accomplish any task that comes our way without help from anyone.  Then when we fail we want to know why?  Why can't I do something that simple without messing it up?  Did we try to do it on our own without including God?  Did we pray about it asking God for direction?

ASAP (Always say a prayer)!

Knowing the right answers and then taking them to heart is critical in our spiritual life.  God's word teaches us that no one comes to the Father except through Christ.  I pray that He gives me His light, that I may respond in all areas of my life the right way, and lean on Him for direction down the road of life.

I Need Thee Every Hour

by Annie S. Hawks & Robert Lowry

I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee!
Ev’ry hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Saviour!
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour;
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour;
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son!

.

Turn Your Ear To Wisdom

For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.  Proverbs 2:6-8

There are so many paths in life that we can take and some of those paths can be full of potholes.  There are those that seem to step in every pothole and we wonder why they continue down the same path.  Are we only seeing their potholes and making their potholes our focus so we don't have to look at our own potholes?  Why do we continue to dome of the same things over and over wondering why nothing changes.  It's simple; Without change nothing changes!  We need to step out of our denial and face the situation or circumstance that need to be changed in our lives.   We need to seek God's wisdom and change the things we can.  We need to seek God's direction for our lives and let Him lead us to make the changes needed in our lives.  He will always choose the right path for us we when place our faith and trust in Him.

Serenity Prayer

by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971)

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

Vocalizing Prayer

And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  Matthew 6:7

Why do we make it so hard for us to pray?  We think we won't say the right words and our words will make no sense.  We don't like to pray out loud because we are afraid of making a fool of our self.  My devotion today reminded me of the acrostic ACTS a formula for prayer; Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.  We need to always come to God and honor Him for His creation, confess our sins, give thanks for all He has done for us and lift up our needs before Him. There are times when I think of Jesus sitting in a chair in front of me and as I lay my head in His lap I pour my heart out to Him, thanking Him for all He has done for me.  My words don't matter because He already knows what is in my heart, He just wants to hear from me.

Prayer is my one on one time with God, a time I can communicate with Him and He communicates with me.

Sweet Hour of Prayer

by William W. Walford, 1772-1850

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father's throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief,

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

The joys I feel, the bliss I share

Of those whose anxious spirits burn

With strong desires for thy return!

With such I hasten to the place

Where God my Savior shows his face,

And gladly take my station there,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

Thy wings shall my petition bear

To him whose truth and faithfulness

Engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since he bids me seek his face,

Believe his word, and trust his grace,

I'll cast on him my every care,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

May I thy consolation share,

Till from Mount Pisgah's lofty height

I view my home and take my flight

This robe of flesh I'll drop, and rise

To seize the everlasting prize,

And shout, while passing thru the air,

"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"
- See more at: http://www.gospelsonglyrics.org/songs/sweet_hour_of_prayer.html#sthash.QgYeLrbC.dpuf

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"
- See more at: http://www.gospelsonglyrics.org/songs/sweet_hour_of_prayer.html#sthash.QgYeLrbC.dpuf

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"
- See more at: http://www.gospelsonglyrics.org/songs/sweet_hour_of_prayer.html#sthash.QgYeLrbC.dpuf

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"
- See more at: http://www.gospelsonglyrics.org/songs/sweet_hour_of_prayer.html#sthash.QgYeLrbC.dpuf

A Child Of Promise

 

Christmas 2011

 

"Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations;

kings of peoples shall come from her."

Genesis 17:16

Things have happened in my life that I felt like I would not survive, that I could not get over the hurt.  I have watched loved ones draw their last breath and I have asked why?  Why was their life cut short when they have so much to offer?  Then I realized that just as God blessed Sarah with a child He blesses my life continually.  He blessed me with a loving husband, a beautiful daughter, a handsome "son" and a gorgeous granddaughter.  O I still have questions and I still ask why but the blessings He gives me daily far out weigh any questions I might have.  I have much to be thankful for!

There Shall Be Showers of Blessing 

By Daniel W. Whittle, 1833

“There shall be showers of blessing;” 

This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.

Showers of blessing,
(Showers, showers of blessing,)
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops rounds us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

“There shall be showers of blessing-” 

Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

Showers of blessing,
(Showers, showers of blessing,)
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops rounds us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.


“There shall be showers of blessing;”

Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honour Thy word.

“There shall be showers of blessing;” 

O that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Our Prayer Requests

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.  

Psalm 5:3

Do you start your day with God and spend some quiet time with Him alone?  Do you lift up prayer petitions for those you love, for those in need and for yourself?  This is a goal I have set for myself this year as I want to spend time with God.  I want to sit quietly and listen to what He has to say to me.  I want to pray for my family, my friends and yes even for myself.  God's word tell me ask and I shall receive but there are times that I wonder if I am praying with the right attitude because I keep praying for the same thing.  Did I really give this to God and if I did why do I keep asking for the same thing.  I believe it is because God has placed it on my heart to keep asking, to keep on keeping on, and I need to start each of my prayer times with a thankful heart, thanking Him for what He has already done for my family and friends.  I believe that He will answer each one of my prayers in His time and I need to wait on Him.  I believe that when He doesn't answer right away He is working on me and the areas in my life that need to be changed.  I believe that when you tell someone you will pray for them do it right then and don't put it off.  I believe that when God places a name in your mind to stop right then and say a prayer and if you can give them a call.  God placed them on your heart for a reason.  I believe that by waiting I will/am becoming a stronger individual and my faith will continue to grow.

I Must Tell Jesus

by Elisha A. Hoffman

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.

Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior;
One Who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.

O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the victory to win.